Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the hon. member's comments and I have some concerns and questions. I am very concerned that we are engaging in false debate on the issue of compensation for all victims. I would hope that on a day like today we could put to rest this notion that we are setting a dangerous precedent.
I call on the member to clearly distinguish between medical mishap and regulatory failure as is the case with hepatitis C and was the case with thalidomide and HIV for which the federal government took responsibility. We are simply asking the government to do what is right and just and required under law.
It is very important for the member to acknowledge that we are not talking about a test that was suddenly being used in 1986 or only available in 1986. Justice Krever is very clear about this test, surrogate test, the ALT test, being available well before 1986. He mentions in his report that in 1982 the New York Blood Centre began routine ALT testing of all donations. The head of the New York blood program actually said it is the only thing we have to identify donors who are at high risk of transmitting this type of disease.
The evidence is clear. Testing was available. It was a question of our regulatory authority, the federal minister and the department, applying the law and ensuring that a test was put in place. They failed to do so, thereby putting the health and lives of many Canadians at risk.
Is the member now prepared to look at the evidence at hand and recognize that it is a false argument to refer to the period of 1986 to 1990 as the period of liability and to look at the negligence of the federal government for this whole issue because of the failure to carry out its responsibilities?